What’s Cookin’…Nettles

by emilyrconner on May 30, 2013

Nettles, one of my favorite greens to eat. Most people I know stay away from this plant because the little prickers on the stems sting and irritate your skin when you brush against them. While, these plants can cause irritation of your skin they are also very healthy for you to eat. Nettles are rich in calcium, iron, protein, and many vitamins and minerals. Besides being a healthy they can also reduce symptoms of PMS, allergies, and hay fever. They help the circulatory system, reduce chronic headaches and arthritis pain when the stingers are rubbed on the joints. This is not just food, it is medicine.

Below is my patch of nettles growing in my garden. The kids all know what it looks like so they know to be cautious. They are very good at pointing out when the plants start to grow on the path so I can pull them out. Besides in my garden, I find nettles along the edges of woods, paths in the park, and near wet areas.

Gathering Nettles

When gathering stinging nettle we usually wear gloves to protect our hands. I don’t always wear gloves when picking a small amount but if you are picking a large amount wear gloves, otherwise your hands will get very irritated and itchy.

When gathering you want to pick the top 4 to 6 leaves. This is the newest growth and the most tender. This also allows the plant to keep growing and you can harvest again and again all through the summer.

Preparing Nettles

Once you have your nettles, put them in a cold water bath. Use your hand to agitate them in the water. This will clean the leaves and many of the stingers will fall off as well. After the rinse put them in a salad spinner to dry. It is safe to eat the stingers as they loose their power a while after the plant has been picked or after the leaves have been cooked.

Nettles can be used the same as spinach so they are very versatile. Here are some of my favorite ways to eat nettles: